Singapore Soccer Team Forced to Pay Money for Sucking So Bad?

The country's top men's soccer organization, known as the S.League, has decided that mere humiliation isn't enough of a punishment for its doormats. Starting next season, any team that finishes in last or second-to-last place will be slapped with a fine of up to 50,000 Singapore dollars, equivalent to $41,000 in the United States.

According to S.League CEO Lim Chin, the organization "hope(s) these stiff penalties, not just a slap on the wrist, will inspire clubs to do well." Soccer is incredibly popular in Singapore, but it's hard to imagine that any of its teams, even the successful ones, can easily afford a large fine. For some squads, a successful season might mean the difference between sports glory and looking for a new job.

More importantly, can you imagine if this rule existed in America's top professional leagues? Sure, teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates or the Cleveland Browns are openly ridiculed for their struggles, but they aren't expected to open up their wallets and pay for them. In fact, thanks to modern-day sports luxuries such as profit-sharing and college drafts, there's often an incentive to churning out the occasional low payroll or losing season.